Defensive lapse defines Mariners baseball

Driving to Crescent Bar Saturday morning, I called brother Bob in Spokane. We usually talk after a Mariner game.

"No I didn't see the end," he said. "They were ahead 2-0 when I walked away in the sixth. I came back in the seventh, and they were behind 3-2. I said, 'the heck with this,' and went to bed. So what happened?"

Well, the play that just about defines the Mariners these past few years. I hate to tell you 'cause you may not believe it.

"Try me. With the Mariners I'll believe just about anything."

Okay. Justin Vargas got an out and then gave up a double. Then Manager Eric Wedge made the reasonable, by-the-book, move to the bullpen.

He brought in Tom Wilhelmsen, who gave up two walks immediately to load the bases. The situation was dire, but then Wilhelmsen induced a bouncer back to him.

"So?"

Well, Wilhelmsen looked back the runner at third base and then threw wildly to second. A run scored, and the bases were still loaded.

"Why did he do that?" Bob exclaimed.

I told you you wouldn't believe it.

"He had the out right in front of him," Bob stated with a rising voice.

I know. He also had the double play at first base. The ball was perfectly hit to end the inning with a 2-0 lead.

"Geez," Bob said.

Yeah, geez.

Took me back to the days when Bob and I and brother Rich and a ton of neighborhood kids played sandlot. We looked forward to loaded bases when we were in trouble defensively.

"Out at any base, out at home," you heard repeated across the diamond.

But the Mariners are pros. You don't have to say, "out at home," to them. A major league manager doesn't go to the mound before the pitch to tell the pitcher how to play a come-backer.

No. He just sits dumbfounded afterwards when the pitcher blows the simplest of plays.

"Sleepless in Seattle" would be a good name for this debacle.